On this week's episode of the podcast, freeCodeCamp founder Quincy Larson interviews Anjana Vakil who left academia to learn to code. She got her first developer job in her 30s. She was an English teacher who studied computational linguistics, and found building software to be more fun than actual research. She's worked at ton of tech companies and has freelance clients. She shares some excellent tips on learning new skills and avoiding burnout.

We talk about:
- How Anjana taught herself to code in her 30s
- Being an American dev working in Europe
- Stress, burnout, and how she gets by
- How skills from your previous non-developer career can help differentiate you as a developer

Support for this podcast comes from a grant from Wix Studio. Wix Studio provides developers tools to rapidly build websites with everything out-of-the-box, then extend, replace, and break boundaries with code. Learn more at https://wixstudio.com.

Support also comes from the 11,243 kind folks who support freeCodeCamp through a monthly donation. Join these kind folks and help our mission by going to https://www.freecodecamp.org/donate

Links we talk about during our conversation:

- "How to be the ideal newb" article: https://jvns.ca/blog/good-questions/

- "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle" book that Anjana mentions: https://www.amazon.com/Burnout-Secret-Unlocking-Stress-Cycle/dp/198481706X

- Anjana's website: https://anjana.dev/

Chapters

0:00:00 Podcast Teaser
0:00:26 Intro, Spy vs. Spy
0:02:31 Anjana's Background
0:09:37 Building a Network for Freelancing
0:15:40 Navigating Freelancing Risks
0:21:31 The Value of Community and Support
0:27:28 The Future of Freelancing and Job Security
0:34:37 Economic Impact of Major Employers
0:41:29 The Role of AI in Software Development
0:46:35 Anjana's Journey into Tech
0:59:44 The Importance of Low-Resource Languages
1:10:59 Understanding the Recurse Center's Business Model
1:22:39 Navigating the Application Process for Outreachy
1:31:29 Building Community in Isolated Environments
1:39:00 The Importance of Diverse Voices in Tech
1:46:26 The Value of Free Work and Knowledge Sharing
1:51:58 Teaching as a Path to Career Growth
1:58:46 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Tech
2:08:28 Finding Passion in Programming
2:17:35 Reprioritizing Life Post-Pandemic
2:23:27 The Impact of Virtual Conferences
2:32:57 Creating a Supportive Tech Community
2:38:54 The Value of Diverse Backgrounds in Tech

freeCodeCamp is a nonprofit organization offering free online coding courses and programming tutorials, covering topics such as web development, data science, and machine learning. Learners can gain practical coding skills, build real-world projects, and earn certifications to advance their careers in tech.

freeCodeCamp

Anjana Vakil, a former academic who taught herself to code and secured her first developer job at age 31, shares her journey, insights into switching careers, and tips on managing burnout. She now works as a freelance developer and discusses the benefits of flexibility, the importance of a supportive network, and practical steps to ensure financial stability and health care access for freelancers.

How to become a developer in your 30s with Anjana Vakil [Podcast #162]